'I'll be back': Humble Kendrick whips Perth fans into a frenzy

Los Angeles rapper Kendrick Lamar hasn't been to Perth since 2012 and last night's near-sellout Perth Arena crowd wasn't taking any minute with one of the world's most skilled lyricists for granted.

In classic rapper style Lamar started the first show of his Australian Damn album tour half an hour late, but anyone miffed about that was drowned out by the deafening roar when the Pulitzer Prize winner appeared on stage.

Kendrick Lamar at Perth Arena last night.Credit:Hamish Hastie.

Amidst an explosion of pyrotechnics 'Kung Fu Kenny', a name he coined himself, launched straight into a punchy rendition of DNA, which has found fame recently in the Creed 2 trailer.

From there the tone was set and the fevered crowd lapped up each and every slick offering.

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On the simplistic stage where all focus was on Lamar he sang tracks from 2017's Damn, but old fans weren't left wanting with plenty of songs from 2012's Good Kid, mA.A.d City and the critically acclaimed To Pimp a Butterfly from 2015 also making the set list.

King Kunta, the biggest single from To Pimp a Butterfly, whipped the dance floor into a frenzy while Swimming Pools (Drank), a song ironically about alcoholism that has become an anthem for drinking,slowed things down a peg.

Lamar whipped the crowd into a frenzy.Credit:Hamish Hastie

Loyalty, one of his biggest singles from Damn featuring Rihanna was also a hit.

Halfway through his show Lamar appeared in the middle of the crowd in, and eventually on top of, a cage of light where he delivered soulful performances of Lust and Money Trees.

Returning to the main stage Lamar belted out the grungy m.A.A.d city and it was non stop bangers from there.

Such is the hype around Lamar after Bitch, Don't Kill My Vibe he just stood at the front of the stage with his arms out until the screams got so loud they just melted into a wall of noise.

He encored with the slower track God, an interesting choice given the frenzy he'd left punters in with Humble.

Lamar weaves his own experiences and tribulations into his lyrics, which is why they're so poignant and political. It's also why Damn was the first ever rap album to be awarded the Pulitzer Prize for music.

It was a treat to watch a man at the top of his game deliver smart songs on a decent AV set up without the pomposity of other rappers like Kanye West.

Interestingly, the entire crowd was rapping word for word with Lamar, including the verses heavy with the n-word.

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Lamar himself has previously pulled up white fans for using the n-word while rapping to his songs.

In May this year he invited a white woman to the stage at a show in Alabama to rap m.A.A.d city with him, but stopped the song when she used the n-word.

It didn't seem to phase him last night though, signing off the show with, "I will be back."

4.5/5 Pulitzer trophies

Lamar plays shows in Adelaide and Melbourne before wrapping up in Sydney on July 25.

Hamish Hastie is a Fairfax Media business reporter writing from the WAtoday offices in Perth. He was raised in Armadale in Perth's south east and covered the area for four years at the Examiner Newspaper before a stretch writing for the Chamber of Commerce and Industry WA's business magazines.